Château Jamard Belcour, Lussac Saint-Emilion


Jamard Belcour label

Country & RegionFrance, Bordeaux
Appellation(s)Lussac Saint-Emilion
ProducerFranck Despagne
Founded7th generation to run family domaine. Franck Despagne started in 1986
Websitevins-saint-emilion.com/en/castle/chateau-jamard-belcour-2/

F ranck Despagne traces his lineage in greater Saint-Emilion back to 1665. A baptism ledger in neighboring Saint-Sulpice de Falerens lists that forefather as a ploughman. Beyond that, the historic record is silent, and whether or not the family originated from Spain (d’Espagne, i.e., of Spain) is anyone’s guess. What’s known today is that Franck’s cousin is the seventh-generation Despagne to run Saint-Emilion’s highly regarded Château Grand Corbin Despagne while Franck, who joined his father in 1986 working 30 acres in the proverbial wilderness, doubled those vineyards to just over 60 acres.

Jamard Belcour's Franck Despagne

The vines are all in the satellites to the north, formerly frowned upon by the gentry of Saint-Emilion as outcasts but today considered authentic zones of quality and value. Indeed, more than one well-heeled producer has bought vineyards up there. From his parcels, Franck makes a number of wines corresponding to their appellation using steel, concrete, barrel and amphore as aging vessels. Château Jamard Belcour is distinguished by the fact that it’s the only one of his wines from Lussac Saint-Emilion, and the only wine that sees no wood. It is the product of 13 acres in four parcels on one hillside, nourished from grape to wine via concrete vats (above-ground for fermentations, underground for aging). It’s further distinguished by the fact that Franck was born in the hamlet of Jamard, and most of his vines there come from his mother. It’s close to his heart.

Jamard Belcour Saint Emilion vines

The ferments are all spontaneous with ambient yeast from the grapes and the cellar at the modest château. The blend reflects what’s in the vineyards: 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Franck takes care with these grapes. He’s not after a flashy bomb of a wine; what he’s after is a true vin de terroir.

Jamard Belcour vines

The Wines

WineBlendDescription
Lussac Saint-Emilion
90% Merlot,
10% Cabernet Franc
From 13 acres growing in four parcels on one clay-limestone hillside in Lussac Saint Emilion, the northernmost of the four Saint Emilion satellites. Native ferments, élevage in underground concrete vats, no fining, a light filtration. The aromatics are rich and earthy, the flavors are full-bodied, and the profile is deliciously stately. Production averages 2,600 cases.